Arun residents submit petitions for no parking machines in free car parks

A petition with some four and a half thousand signatures was submitted to district council officers in opposition to the proposed construction of parking metres at Grassmere , Links Avenue and Middleton Car Parks last month. Although the metres, which were originally due to be installed on April 1, currently give out tickets for free parking for a number of hours, some feel they are the first step towards inevitably introducing parking charges in the area.

The go-live date for the car parking meters, delayed from April 1, is still being decide, but it was originally envisioned that the metres at Grassmere car park and Shrubbs Field offer free parking for up to eight hours, with no return for two, while, at Links Avenue, motorists would have access to two hours free parking, with no return for six hours.

Explaining the introduction of the ticket machines earlier this year, a spokesperson for Arun District Council said they will be used to collect usage data about the car parks, to allow them to change and adapt policy as needed. It is also hoped they will deter abuse of the car park, allowing for a greater turnover of vehicles and speedier identification of illegally abandoned vehicles.

Blue badge holders, the spokesperson said, will be able to continue to use the car parks as long as they like, so long as a blue badge is displayed.

Although there are no concrete plans to do so as of yet, the residents and councillors behind the petition insist the machines could lead to paid tickets. Jaine Wild, WSCC councillor for Felpham, said “as yet there was no agreement with WSCC and if parking meters were installed it could cause highway problems within Felpham and Middleton-on-Sea villages.

"Proposed installation has been planned without public consultation, has been imposed by ADC with no risk assessment or impact assessment, and without agreement with West Sussex County Council. Some District and County Councillors fear any prospect of charging will further damage small businesses that are already suffering with the rise of out of town shopping.”

Jacky Pendleton (West Sussex, Arun District & Middleton-on-Sea Parish Councillor) added “the proposal to install parking meters is against the community, a waste of public money, and as yet does not have County Council approval.”

A spokesperson for Arun District Council said there are currently no plans to charge at any of the free parking tickets, even if the machines themselves are installed, and that any decision along these lines would be discussed and eventually made by the council’s Environment Committee.

The spokesperson added that members of the public and stakeholders were consulted on the decisions, despite assertions to the contrary: “As part of the proposed changes, we have consulted with the community, stakeholders and any other parties affected by the proposed changes to the free car parks. This was done via a public notice in a local newspaper, social media post, home-page of Arun District Council’s website along with a ‘frequently asked questions’ document explaining the changes proposed,” they said